Duplicating machine



Sept. 4, 193 J. K. DUNCAN r AL DUPLICATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Sept. 4, 193 J. K. DUNCAN El AL DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1931Sept. 4, 193 J. K. DUNCAN E1 AL DUPLI GAT ING MACHINE Fled July 1, 19515 Sheets-Sheet 5 CD LG Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFECE DUPLICATING MACHINE City, Mo., assignors to Ditto, Incorperated,

Chicago, 111., a corporation of West Virginia Application July 1, 1

26 Claims.

The inventon relates t duplicating machines and has reference moreparticularly to automatic paper feedng mechanism f0r association withsuch machines.

In the operation of that type of duplicators known as hectographmachines a carriage carryngan impression roller trave1s over a gelatinsurface te impress upon the surface a master er copy sheet. A copyhelder or tray is genera1ly supported by the carriage in such positionwith relation to the impression roller whereby the sheets can be easilyfed. by the cperator thereto.

It is an object of the inventon to provide a hectograph machine withnevel means whereby a blank sheet will be presented and fed to theimpression roller automaticaliy as the carriage reaches its forwardposition.

Another object is to provide feeding mecha- 2G nism of the characterdescribed. which will operate without interference to the hands of theoperator whi1e removing a copy from the carriage.

A further object is to provide paper feeding mechanism for hectographmachines which .will inccrporatc a novel form of tray for supporting theccpy sheets, the complete device being inteehangeable with the standardcopy holder.

A further object is the provision of paper feeding mechanism which willoperate to release a sheet of paper from the pile supported by the trayduring the initial stroke of the carriage and te forcibly eject thesheet downward cnt0 the margin bar in position for engagement by theimpression roller at the completion of the next 01 return stroke of thecarriage.

Another object is to provide paper feeding mechanism with a feeder shaftthat is readi1y removable, permitting replacement of worn parts or forcleaning and to also allow manual feeding of the sheets if desired.

Sti11 another object is to provide a paper feeding mechanism.particuiarly adapted. for use on hectograph machines in which theposition and height of the feeding means is such that loading of thetray is simp1e and casy to perform.

A further object is to provide feeding mechanism with operating meansincluding a rack and pinion drive which provides for a uniform andpositive rotation of the feeder shaft.

Yet another object is the provision of a nove1 for supporting sheets ofpaper having members that are adjustable te various sizes of commercialpaper within the capacity of the machine.

931, Serial No. 548,114

A further object is. to provide a tray formed of resilientsupportingmembers which can be urged in a direction tomaintain thesheets of paper in contact with the feeding arms.

A further object is toprovide paper supporting means which will bepivotally mounted in frame memberssecured t0 thecarriage, the pivota1support being soiocatedwith respect to the feeder arms associatedtherewith that adjustment of the feeder arms is possible without varyingthe relation of the same with the paper supporting means.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device, and.wherein 1ike reference characters are used to designate 1ike partsFigure 1 is a side elevaticnal view of a hectograph machine showing theno ve1 form of tray and paper feeding means of the present inventionassociated therewith;

Figure 2 is asectional view taken en the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa fragmentary sectional view taken substantially through thecenter of the tray and. showing -the paper feeding means associated.

therewith in one pesition of operation;

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure 3 shcwing the paper feeding meansin another position of operation.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 0f Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is aperspective view of a feeder arm;

Figure 8 isa sectional view taken substantially transversely of the armand. showing a rubber member supported thereon, and

Figure 9- is a perspective view of the spring clip.

A form of duplicating machine with which the present inventon may beassociated is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as compri sing spaced side frames10 provided with supporting lugs 11 at their 1ower ends and havingmounted between their upper ends a flat platen 12. Spindles 13,journaled in the respective ends of the frames, have wound upon them thegelatin band 14 which is stretched over and supported on the platen 12to form a printing surface. Theframes 10 have tracks 15 thereon forsupporting a carriage 16, Figure 1, adapted to be worked back and f'orthby handle 17 to perform a printing operaticn For guiding the carriage aguide rod 18 is fixedly mounted in 1ugs 19 integral with ne of theframes 10 and extends longitudinally of the frame and slidably supportsa mem ber pvoted to the frame of the carriage 16 by studs 21. Anadjustable carriage stop 22 is positioned on the rod 18 for limiting thetravel of the carriage in one direction, and a 1ug 24 on the carriageand the member 20 simultaneously engages a stop shoulder 23 and buffingring 25 to limit the travel of the carriage in the opposite direction.

As shown in Figure 4, the carriage is formed of spaced frames 26 and. 27joined by side mem bers 28 in which are journalled supporting means 29for the impression roller 30. Pivotally suspended from the members 28 isa pressure roller 31 adapted to cooperate with the roller to engage asheet of paper as the same is impressed upon the gelatin surface by theimpression roller during travel of the carriage. A margin bar 32 is sopositioned within the frames 10 that it engages the sheet insertedbetween the rollers 30 and 31 and supports the marginal edge of the samein correct relation to the forward edge of the gelatin surface.

A copy helder or tray for containing the blank sheets to be duplcated ispivotally mounted in spaced frames 34 and 36, Figures 2, 3 and 4,

suitably secured to the frame 26 comprising part of the carriage, theframes 34 and. 36 being held in spaced relatiori at the end oppositetheir securement to the carriage by a. spacer rod 35.

" Also secured to the frame 26 by means of lugs 37, integral therewith,is a right angled plate 38, and a separator plate 40, the plates beingdetachably mounted upon the member by beits 41. Backed aganst thedepending arm of plate 38 is a retaining member 42 which forms withstrips en a supporting rod 47 mounted in the spaced frames 34 and 36. Anadjusting screw 48 secures the strips in adjusted position on the rod,their location being determined by the size of the paper te besupported. Slidably mounted on the center strip 43 is a backing stop 50,also adjustable to accommodate various lengths of paper.

The marginal strips 44 and 45 are of right angled form for the greaterportion of their length, the sides terminating near their lower ends ofthe strips to permit the ends to be curved as at 51. The end of strip 43is also curved, each curved end being located under the retaining lip ofthe separator plate 40 so that the paper sheets supported by the stripshave their for ward marginal edge retained until it is withdrawn by thefeeding means to be described. A resilient support for the lowerportions of the strips is provided by the arms 52, fixedly mounted onthe shaft 53, Fgure 6, journaled in the frames 34 and 36. The arms areconnected by a rod 54 engaging the strips and. whch is resiliently urgedinto contact with the same by vthe coil spring 55 secured at one end toframe 34, and at its other end to a. depending lever 56 formed withopenings for the purpose. By this structure the paper supported by thestrips forming the tray is held in engagement at all. times with theretainng lip of the plate 40 and is urged upwardly so that the top sheetcan be engaged by the feeding arms.

The feeding means proper includes feeding arms 58 adjustably mounted onshaft 59 supported from the spaced frames 34 and 36 by means ofsupporting arms 60, pivoted to the frames at 61. The arms are adjustables0 as to vary the position of the feeding arms with relation to the trayby means of threaded members 62 connected at one end to the rear end ofarm and at their other end being held in a supporting lug 63 secured tothe frames by means of threaded nuts 64. Adjustment of the nuts onmembers 62 will function to vary the lengt h of the members and to permtadjustment of the position of the feeding arms, as will be clearlyunderstood. The feeding arms comprise elongated members 58, Figure 7,provided with a bore 65 for mounting the arms on the shaft 59 and havingslots 66 formeel therein and oommunieating with the bore 65. The armsare adjustably mounted on shaft 59 by means of the springclip 67, whichis positioned in bore 65 and. fits within the groove 68 formeel in theshaft. The ends of the clip are located in slots 66 to retan the clip enthe member, the members beng thus adjustable along shaft 59 and beingnonrotatably mounted on the said shaft by means of the clip fittingwithin the groove 66.

Adjustably positioned in one of the supporting arms 60 is a stud 70formed With a pointed end for engaging the counter-sunk end of shaft 59.The other supporting arm rotatabiy mounts stud '71 having looselymounted thereon a U-shaped member 72 and fixedly secured thereto apinion '73. On the end of the stud 71, opposite pinion '73, is fixedlysecured a hub 74 having diametrically aligned slots 75. One end of shaft59 is counter-sunk as described for reeeiving stud 70, while theopposite end is provided with diametrically extending studs 7 6 ferfitting within slot '75 when that end of the shaft is postioned in therecesses provided in the hub '74. In this manner shaft 59 is detachablymounted on the arms 60 but has rotation in accordance with the rotationof the stud '21. Removal of the shaft is accomplished by releasing stud'70 through rotation of the set screw '77 and withdrawing the stud, thusremoving one of the supporting means for the shaft.

Rotatably mounteol in supports 78 secured to the frames 34 and 36,respectively, is an actu ating shaft 80 having secured to its respectiveends depending members 81 and 82, the right hand member 81, Figure 2,beng adapted to engage the adjustable stop 22 as the carriage reachesthe end of its initial stroke, while the leit hand member 82 is adaptedto engage stop 83 formed on frame 10 as the carrage reaches the end ofits return or forward stroke. As will be clear, engagement of member 81with the adjustable stop 22 will cause rotation of the actuating shaft80 in a clockwse direction, while engagement of member 82 with stop 83will cause rotation of the shaft in a counter-clockwise direction.Operating means for the feeding arms includes a lever 84 secured toshaft 80 which has pivotally secured to its upper end, as at 85, a rackbar 86, the bar being supported Within the U-shaped member 72 and havingmeshing engagement with the pinion 73. Thus rotation of operating shaft80 is imparted to the stud '71 to cause rotati0n of shaft 59 carryingthe feeding arms.

The operation of the feeding means is as follows:

It will be assumed that the parts are in the position as shown in Figure4, where the rollers and 31 are separated for permitting a sheet to beinserted and located against margin stop 32 and the feeding arms arelocated in their downward postion, spaced from and extendng parallel tothe sheets of paper supported by the tray. The handle 17 is firstgrasped by the operator and rocked in a drection to cause downwardmovement of the roller 30 to engage the paper and impress the same uponthe surface of the gelatin band 14. The carriage is then given rearwardmovement away from the operator, which rotates the impression roller tocause feeding of the sheet and impressing the same upon the gelatin.Stop 22 is so located as to prevent further travel of the carriage in arearward direction after substantially all of the sheet has beenimpressed upon the gelatin surface. As the carriage reaches the end ofthis rearward stroke the depending arm 81 wi1l engage stop 22, causngrockng of the arm and rotation of the operating shaft 80, the rotationbeing transmitted through lever 84 and. rack bar 86 to the pinion '73.The pinion is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and since therotation of the pinion is imparted to shaft 59 the eeding arms 58 arealso rotated in a counter-clockwise direction. The arms have fitted overthem rubber bands 87 and during the upward movement resulting from theirrotation engagement between the lower ends of the arms and the top sheetof paper will take place, causing upward movement of the paper and thereleasing of its marginal edge from under the retaining lip formed bythe separator plate 40.

The feeding means remains in this position until the next or forwardstroke of the carriage is practically completed. During this forwardstroke the sheet of paper impressed upon the gelatin surface iswithdrawn and fed outwardly between the rollers 30 and 31. As thecarriage reaches the end of the stroke arm 82 wi1l engage the stop 83,causing rotation of the actuating shaft in a counter-clockwisedirection, which movement is imparted to the pinion, thus rotating shaft59 and the feeding arms in a clockvvise direction. The top sheet ofpaper is held in its upward released position, as shown in Figure 3, byengagement with the same of the feeding arms. Rotation of the arms in aclockwise direction wi1l forcibly eject the sheet of paper downwardlyfor insertion between the rollers 30 and 31, where t is in position tobe engaged by roller 30 for another printing operation. It may bementioned that as the carriage reaches its extreme forward positon theoperator rocks handle 17 to lift the handle 30 from impression,whereupon the duplicated sheet can be removed, leaving the parts inreadiness for receving the sheet fed by the mechanism described.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the exactembodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustrationand not limitation, as various and other forms of the device wil1 ofcourse be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and forth over said bed, a tray mounted on saidcarriage and adapted to support a pack of sheets, and means supported bysaid carriage and movable therewith for feeding a single sheet of paperfrom said pack to said bed, said means being adapted to engage said bedand cause said feeding by movement of the carriage.

2. In a duplicating machine,the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable over said bed. to perform a printing operation, meanson said carriage supporting sheets of paper to be printed, and.separating and feeding means associated. therewith, said means beingoperative to feed a sheet to the carriage at the completion of aprinting operation.

3. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarrage movable over said bed, a tray carried by and. movable with thecarriage for supporting sheets of paper to be printed, rotatably mountedfeeding arms supported in spaced relation to the tray, operating meanstherefor, said operating means being adapted to engage said bed duringmovement of the carriage and adapted to be actuated thereby.

4. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable over said bed, a tray carried by and movable with thecarriage for supporting sheets of paper to be printed, rotatably mountedfeeding arms supported in spaced relation to the tray, an actuating armoperatively connected to the feeding arms, said actuating arm engaging astop in the path of said movable carriage to rotate the feed ing arms tofeed a sheet from the tray.

5. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a carriage, of a papersupportng tray carried thereby, feeding means associated with the trayincluding rotatably mounted feeding arms adjustably spaced from thetray, an actuating arm operatively connected to the feedng arms, saidactuating arm engaging a stop in the path of travel of the carriage tocause rotation of the feeding arms.

6. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a carriage, of a papersupporting tray carried thereby, spaced frames secured to the carriage,feeding arms adjustably supported by the frames in spaced relation tothe tray, and depending levers supported from the frames and operativelyconnected to the feeding arms, said depending levers being actuated. bymovement of the carriage.

'7. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a carriage, of apaper supporting tray carried thereby, spaced frames secured to thecarriage, feeding arms adjustably supported from the frames in spacedrelation to the tray, an actuating shaft journaled in the frames and operatively connected to the feeding arms, and members depending from theshaft, said members being actuated by movement of the carrage.

8. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a carriage, of a papersupporting tray carried thereby, spaced frames secured to the carriage,a shaft detachably and rotatably mounted in the frames, feeding armssecured to the shaft, a second shaft rotatably mounted in the frames,actuating members depending from said second shaft, and meansoperatively connecting said shafts.

9. In a duplicating machine, the combination with a carriage, of a papersupporting tray carried thereby, spaced frames secured to the car riage,a shaft detachably and rotatably mounted in the frames, feeding armssecured to the shaft,

a gear wheel secured to sad shaft, a second shaft rotatably mounted inthe frames, a rack connected to sad second shaft and having meshingengagement with the gear, and actuating members depending from sadsecond shaft.

10. In a duplicating machine, a printing bed provided with a stop, acarriage movable over sad bed to perform a printing operaton, a papersupporting tray carried by sad carriage, and means or feeding sheets ofpaper from the tray to the carrage, sad means including oscillatingfeeding arms supported in spaced relation to the tray, and operatingmeans for sad. arms adapted to engage the stop en sad bed and beactuated thereby.

11. In a duplicating machine, a printing bed, a carriage movable oversad bed toperform a printing operation, a paper supporting tray carriedby sad carriage, and means for feeding sheets of paper from the tray tothe carriage, sad means including feeding arme supported in spacedrelation to the tray,- said feeding arms being rotated upwardly duringrearward movement of the carrage to release a sheet, and.

being rotated downwardly during forward movement of the carriage toeject the sheet downwardly to the carriage.

12. In a duplicating machine, a printing bed, a carriage movable oversad bed to perform. a printing operation,a paper supporting tray carriedby sad carriage, means for eeding sheets of paper frcm the tray to thecarriage, sad means including feeding arms supported in spaced relationto the tray, and operating means for the -arms adapted to engage the bedand swing the arme in one direction by movement of the carriage, andswing the Same in the opposite directionby movement of the carriage inthe opposite direction.

13. In a duplicating machine, a carriagemovable back and forth over aprinting bed, an inclined paper supporting tray having its upper endpivotally connected to sad carriage and having its lower end curveddownwardly, feeding means associated with the tray, and resi1ient meansfor iirging the paper supported by the tray into contact with thefeeding means.

14. In a duplicating machine, a printing bed,

a carriage movable over sad bed, spaced frames supported by sadcarriage, a tray pivotally supported at its upper end by sad frames,and. a separator plate secured to the carriage, the 1ower end of thetray being located under sad plate.

15. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and orth over sad bed, means mounted in sadcarriage for applying sheets of paper to sad printing bed, a traymounted on sad carriage to hold a supply of paper sheets, and. meanscarried by sad carriage and actuated by movement thereof te separate sadsheets and feed them one by one to sad applying means.

16, In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and forth over sad bed, means mounted in sadcarriage for pressing sheets of paper against sad printing bed, a traycarried by sad carriage and adapted to hold a supply of paper sheets,means movable with sad carriage and operative to separate sad sheets andfeed them one by one to sad pressing means, and means mounted on sadprinting bed to actuate sad separating and eeding means.

17. In a duplicating machine, the combinaton of a printing bed, acarrage movable back and forth over sad bed, means mounted in sadcarriage for pressing sheets of paper against sad printing bed, a traycarried by sad carriage and adapted to hold a supply of paper sheets,means movable with sad carriage and. operative to separate sad sheetsand feed them one by one to sad pressing means, adjustable stops mountedon sad printing bed, sad separating and. feeding means having actuatinglevers depending from the carriage whereby sad means are actuated byengagement of the levers with the stops upon movement of the carriage.

18. In a duplieatng machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and forth over sad bed, means in sad carriage forpressing sheets of paper against sad printing bed, a tray for holding asupp1y of paper sheets, and means responsive to the movements of sadcarriage and functioning to separate sad sheets of paper and feed themone by one from sad tray te sad pressing means.

19. In a duplicatng machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and forth over sad bed, means in sad carriage forpressing sheets of paper on sad printing bed, a tray carried by sadcarriage and adapted to hold a pile of paper sheets, means mounted onsad carriage and responsive to its movements or feeding the uppermostsheet of paper from sad pile to sad. pressing means each time thecarriage is reciprocated.

20. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a fiat platen having aduplicating surface, a carriage mqvable back and. forth over sad platen,means carried by sad carriage for pressing sheets of paper against sadduplicating surfaee, a tray movable with sad carriage and adapted tohold a pile of paper sheets, and means responsive to the movement of sadcarriage in one direction for separating sad sheets and serving uponreturn movement of the carriage to feed the sheet to sad pressing means.

21. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and forth over sad bed, means carred by sadcarriage or pressing sheets of paper against sad bed, a tray movablewith sad carriage and adapted to hold a supply of paper sheets, os-

cillatory means carred by sad carriage, sad

stop members on sad frame, means carried by sad carriage for pressingsheets of paper on sad platen, a tray carried by sad carriage andadapted to hold a supply of paper sheets, and means carried by sadcarriage and actuated by sad stopsto separate the sheets of sad pile andadvance them one by one to sad pressing means.

23. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a platen fixedin sad frame and provided with a duplicating surface, a carriage movableback and forth across sad platen, an impression roller mounted in sadcarriage, sad

impression roller being adapted to app1y sheets of paper to sadduplicatng surface, a tray carried by sad carrage to hold a supply ofpaper sheets, and means carred by said carriage and operating in timedrelation to the travel of the carriage to separate the sheets of saidpile and to engage and advance them one by one to said pressing means.

24:. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a frame, a flat platenfixed in said frame, a carriage movable back and forth across saidplaten, means carried by said carrage for pressing sheets of paper flat0n said platen, a tray carried by sad carriage to hold a supply of papersheets, and means carried by said carriage and ope1ative to seize andforcibly advance the uppermost sheet on said tray each time the carriageis reciprocated.

25. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a printing bed, acarriage movable back and forth over said bed, a tray mounted en saidcarriage and adapted to support a pack of sheets, and means supported bysad carriage and movable therewth for feeding a single sheet of paperfrom saicl pack te sad bed, said means being adapted te engage saiolbed. during the movement of the carriage and cause feeding of the sheetat the completion of a stroke of said carriage.

26. In a duplicating machine, the combination of a machine, a flatplaten fixed in said frame, a earriage movable back and forth acrosssaid. platen, means carred by the carrage for pressing sheets of paperflat on said platen, a tray carried by said carriage to hold a stack ofpaper sheets, and means carried by said carriage and operative to berotated upwarclly during the rearward movement of the carriage torelease and. separate the top sheet from the stack, and operative to berotated downwardly to seize and forcibly advance the sheet during theforward movement of the carriage.

JAMES K. DUNCAN.

DEAN H. WHITEHEAD.

NATHANIEL T. SHEPHERD.

